The Home’s Ductwork: How Those Leaks Are Costing You Money and Compromising Your Air Quality

09 Jan The Home’s Ductwork: How Those Leaks Are Costing You Money and Compromising Your Air Quality

Homeowners with forced-air HVAC systems installed should be aware that leaky ductwork can cause high energy bills and also compromised indoor air quality. Ducts can leak at any time during the useful life of a home and in most cases are hidden from view. Breaches in ducts can often pull dirt and noxious gases into the home, along with increasing energy bills.

Leaking ductwork can lead to higher energy bills because it sends cooled or heated air into spots that don’t need it. If your energy bills have gone up, or you notice that some rooms aren’t as comfortable as others, suspect ductwork problems. Another indicator is dust buildup near the registers.

Because most ducts run through attics, basement ceiling and walls, it’s hard to detect these problems. The best course of action is to call your HVAC professional who can test them with specialized equipment that determines where the leaks are and the extent of the leakage.

If your ductwork is accessible, take a look at the joints between the registers to verify that they’re tight. Another common areas for leaks to occur is the connection between the branches of the ductwork in your home. If you find loose connections, holes or rips, seal them with mastic, a type of adhesive HVAC professionals use to fix these types of leaks. You can also cover them with sticky metal tape, but should never use duct tape, because its adhesive won’t last long.

It’s also important to seal any leaks because they can pull carbon monoxide (CO) into your home if you use vented gas appliances, like a furnace. If your detector goes off for no apparent reason, it might be alerting you to duct leaks.